Active COVID-19 cases decrease

…36 new cases reported

Guyana’s active COVID-19 cases have decreased despite 36 new positive cases being recorded on Saturday. The total number of active cases has dropped to 753.
The Health Ministry’s daily dashboard showed that the deaths remained at 151 and 4733 persons have recovered. To date, 2915 males and 2722 females have contracted the virus.
There are five persons in the Intensive Care Unit, 53 persons in institutional isolation, 695 in home isolation and 37 in institutional quarantine.
New cases were detected in eight regions, and a breakdown confirmed five new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); two in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 10 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); nine in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and six in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The cases in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remained at 41 and 388 respectively.
Presently, the Ministry is closely monitoring Bartica, Orealla and Siparuta. While there was a slight increase in Bartica, Siparuta has seen a decline in active cases.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony reminded Guyanese during the latest COVID-19 update that testing is available in all administrative regions throughout the country, primarily at the regional hospitals.
“We have teams of doctors and other personnel who have been trained to provide that testing. That’s available at these hospitals. In addition, what we have started doing is add some additional sites where we think it’s necessary,” he shared.
In populous areas like Region Four, there are testing sites at Herstelling, Paradise and the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) in Georgetown. Meanwhile, the recent surge in cases in Berbice, Region Six, has initiated efforts to have additional sites in that region as well.
“What we do is urge persons to get tested. In addition, from time to time, we might detect cases in the remote communities and so we will send teams directly where they will be able to [carry out] more mass-based testing in the community.”
Mobile units are also part of the Ministry’s testing unit, venturing out into various communities to test residents and conduct checks. Since it was commissioned, the units have been operating mainly on the coastland due to geographical constraints.
Speaking on the involvement of the Private Sector in the COVID-19 fight, he shared that many stakeholders have been donating masks and other supplies, which have been distributed to healthcare workers and the public. Other companies, which have the capacity to assist, are also asked to contribute.
“We are happy with those Private Sector companies that has been donating to us. We’ve had some significant donations over the last weeks. We have had companies donating masks; others engaging us in other areas and we want to commend them. We will continue to work with those Private Sector partners to see who would want to help with the response and we are very grateful. We encourage those that have the capacity to help, to also do so,” the Minister shared. (G12)